Different from other zombie flicks

Rating: 10/10 (25 June 2005)

28 Days Later is, in a way, like your usual horror flick. Disease, in this case Rage, gets out and wipes out many many people. We see the main character, Jim, wake up in a hospital and wander around the now abandoned London as he searches for any sign of civilisation. He then meets the infected, people who have Rage, who chase him and try to kill him. Rage will make you a merciless blood-hungry beast. Jim soon meets Selena and Mark, two survivors who hide in a deserted shop. Jim begins to panic and after hearing that there is no government, he says a line which really makes you think:
"What do you mean there's no government? There's always a government, they're in a bunker or a plane somewhere!"
However we know he's wrong. This movie shows, in my opinion, that everyone is truly equal. The government and military aren't stronger than the average person. Unlike other movies the government doesn't escape from the virus in this one. Almost no one can.
When the survivors meet Frank and his daughter Hannah. They then come up with a plan: to follow the directions a Major Henry West has given over the radio. As they arrive, they soon discover the daunting secret the nine soldiers keep.
After seeing 28 Days Later, I began to think of most of the other zombie flicks I had seen before. Many rely on gory and sickening scenes with rotting flesh and lots of blood, as well as lots of screams and surprise moments. 28 Days Later doesn't rely on these facts. Unlike most zombie movies, there are some peaceful moments.
The cinematography is excellent, with the abandoned streets and buildings. The characters also aren't two dimensional people who do the same thing over and over again. These people really seem like they have lost their families, they grow and develop, they express their feelings and they realise what they've got right and what they've got wrong.
The horror scenes are well made with the infected people acting like what a real zombie would be like in my mind. They run, gurgle, scream and swing around their arms. I don't exactly like the traditional disheveled zombie which walks around and moans a lot. So this was a nice change of pace.
One of my favourite scenes is the shopping scene. It's a beautiful happy part where the characters seem to forget their troubles as they take some the food. The music sets the scene perfectly. We even see them bond during their little spree. This part made me truly smile.
All in all, this is a good movie for people who either a) are just starting to watch zombie flicks or b) just want to watch a great movie.